Gendarmes on the Yser front

27 March 2015

The fourth audio-visual report on the work, acts and heroic deeds of Belgian police officers and gendarmes during the First World War was broadcast. This series is part of the WWI centenary commemorations. This episode is about the work of gendarmes on the Yser front. After the German advance on the national territory, the Battle of the Yser (from 17 until 30 October 1914) soon changed into trench warfare. After the lock system was opened, the Belgian, French and British troops were confronted with the invader. Behind the front line, the gendarmes secured the area, acted as military police, escorted prisoners… These tasks made them unpopular in the eyes of the soldiers and they paid a heavy price because of them.

This is a very lively report thanks to re-enactments, interviews of historians, maps, wartime images, drawings, animations and sound effects.

PolNews